Aug 27, 2024 Transport
There’s an old Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now.” The same could be said about underground train networks. The ones we all look up to — New York’s subways, London’s Tube, Paris’s Metro — were built so long ago that almost no one remembers the upheaval those cities went through to build them. For whatever reason, the decision-makers in 19th-20th century Auckland opted for above-ground options instead. So, over the last eight years, there’s been an unprecedented upheaval in Auckland’s central city, all in aid of a future public transport system that will transform the way Aucklanders experience their city. And while every day there is more and more above-ground evidence that the project is entering its final stages, a lot of what’s happening underground remains mysterious. So we called Auckland Transport’s CEO, Dean Kimpton, to find out what’s happening now and how far away we are from riding from Maungawhau to Waitematā.
Metro Where’s the CRL project at today?
Dean Kimpton Most of the physical work has been completed. The tunnels and most of the stations are finished—they’re now in the fit-out stages. We’ve already received the first of the 23 new trains needed for when the CRL opens. There’s a huge amount of work going into preparation, including timetables and the information that customers will need to enjoy the ride experience.
We’ve still got some time to go before practical completion, which is when the physical work ends. After that, we’ll need to focus on all the operational readiness efforts, bringing us into 2026 before we start riding the trains.
Dean Kimpton
Metro What do you think Aucklanders most misunderstand about the project?
Dean Kimpton I think the main thing is just how transformative this is going to be for the whole of Auckland – not just the city centre. The CRL is a lot more than a tunnel connecting Waitematā Station (Britomart) to Maungawhau Station in Mt Eden. There’ll be two new stations making more of the city centre accessible by train, but it will also mean we can do so much more with our entire rail network. Trains will be able to run straight through Waitematā Station (Britomart), many journey times will be significantly reduced and there’ll be more trains more often. Double the amount of Aucklanders will live within 30 minutes of the city centre. The CRL will unlock Auckland’s potential, no question.
Metro What’s it taken to get the project this far?
Dean Kimpton From an Auckland Transport perspective, and on behalf of all Aucklanders, I’m grateful for the investment that the government and councillors have made in funding this project. It’s a significant investment — $5.5 billion — so it’s important to acknowledge the substantial funding from ratepayers and taxpayers. I am grateful on behalf of future users for their trust and confidence in investing in a solution that, I believe, truly completes Auckland and brings it into the future.
We’re also appreciative of all the skills and people who have contributed to the project. It’s been a significant investment from many companies to help us design, build, and deliver it. We will have many opportunities to recognise these contributions along the way. It’s also very important that we acknowledge all those who have been patient during the construction phase. These projects do take a long time and it has been highly disruptive and challenging for those communities, businesses, and residents affected by it. I want to make sure they know we’re thankful and grateful for their patience. We know it’s been a real burden for some, but I’m confident that once it’s done and in place, Aucklanders will be really pleased with it.
Te Waihorotiu Station platform
Metro What we’re looking at is much more than just new trains and new train stations, right? How will the CRL impact the city’s public transport system as a whole?
Dean Kimpton Once the City Rail Link goes live, there will be trains running every four to five minutes—new trains arriving at new stations, providing a completely new travel experience. This will be vastly different from what we’ve previously experienced in Auckland. We will reset the timetables for the bus network to align with the rail network frequency so that they complement each other. This will result in a more reliable, frequent, and faster journey across the entire public transport network. It’s a game-changer. We’ll be able to carry about 50% more people. As frequency and reliability increase and travel time decreases, it all adds up to putting more time back into people’s days.
Metro So obviously one of the effects will be fewer cars on the road, right?
Dean Kimpton Well, that’s not a primary objective. We shouldn’t be congesting our way into public transport. We want an excellent service that meets people’s expectations—clean, safe, reliable, fast, frequent, and on time. If it does that, then people will choose it. We do have a congestion problem on our road networks, no question, and there are various measures we’re implementing to address that. If we can travel more quickly and have a good experience on the public transport network, it will help relieve congestion. But the primary objective is to deliver the trip that people want.
Follow the CRL progress at at.govt.nz/futurerailauckland
